ABBOTTABAD: Authorities have apprehended a crucial suspect in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Dr. Warda Mushtaq, ARY News reported on Wednesday.
The suspect, identified as Adil, was taken into custody by law enforcement officials who also recovered Dr. Warda’s mobile device and ATM card from his possession.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Ayaz Khan revealed that Adil has admitted to digging a grave and burying the victim’s body. Following his identification, police also found a significant cache of weapons at the residence of another suspect, Shamraiz. The arms seized included rocket launcher ammunition, several rifles, and other firearms.
Adil was brought before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), which granted a seven-day remand to continue investigations.Earlier statements from police indicated that Dr. Warda’s murder was premeditated, motivated by greed over gold. Investigators disclosed that the deceased had entrusted her friend and primary suspect, Rida, with gold two years prior. Despite repeated requests, Rida allegedly refused to return the jewelry.
Further investigations suggest that Rida orchestrated the murder with accomplices and allegedly negotiated a payment of Rs10 million with the killers.
On the day of the crime, Rida reportedly lured Dr. Warda to her under-construction residence, where Shamraiz, Nadeem, and Aurangzeb were present. Police allege that Nadeem carried out the killing.
Following the incident, medical staff and hospital workers staged a protest at Benazir Shaheed DHQ Hospital, demanding justice for the victim.
Meanwhile, Dr. Warda’s father voiced his dissatisfaction with local police efforts, accusing law enforcement of insufficient cooperation and revealing that the main suspect was initially not detained.
Dr. Warda, a mother of two, resided with her father, Mushtaq, and her children. Her husband, Raheel Ali Raza, is working abroad in South Korea.
